ENJOY LIFE FOODSFood allergies have become pervasive in our culture.Ingredients First

Research and development
is at the helm of every brand.

Using alternatives to ingredient
staples has traditionally
caused consumer skepticism,
and rightfully so. But when
mainstream options like dairy,
peanuts, eggs and wheat are
off the table, it’s necessary to

look at ingredients that food
innovators might not have
considered previously. Keep
in mind that consumers value
taste and texture above all

and they’ll be the first to tell

you if a product is bland or
pales in comparison to regular

supermarket finds. It is why

increasingly more companies

are following the lead that Enjoy
Life set over 17 years ago, which

is to only provide products that

are best-in-class, while making

certain they meet the dietary
needs of their consumers.

As new technology and new

ingredient development is

commercialized, it provides the
opportunity for new uses of the
planet’s existing offerings.

A perfect example: algae-derived protein. Algal protein
had long been overlooked for
many reasons – it sounds less-

than-appetizing for starters

– but recent advancements has
made it a go-to source for many
products like our Baking Mixes.

Additionally, protein derived

from algae is highly sustainable
and is friendlier to the earth vs.
other animal or plant proteins.

It was only 30 years ago that
food allergies affected .75%
of Americans and now nearly

5% of the population lives
with them on a daily basis.

What’s more alarming than
this is the rate in which our

industry is recalling product
due to unstated allergens in the
product that is manufactured.

In 2017, over 50% of all the food
product recalls were due to

unstated allergens or mislabeled
product. This could result in

allergic reactions which are on
the rise. From 2007 to 2016, life-threatening allergic reactions to
food increased 377%, according

to a study by FAIR Health. With

no known cure and definite
cause as to why food allergies
occur, that’s just the tip of the

iceberg.

It’s clear that this is an
indication that the food industry
needs to continue to adapt, and
it’s opened doors of opportunity

for brands and retailers alike
to lead a food movement that

that will not only save lives

but enable them to become
a solution that is needed for
today’s population.

Packaging with Purpose

Consumers place trust in

transparency. They want to
know exactly what is and isn’t
in your product, but they also
don’t want to spend time

playing the guessing game.

As noted in an article on Food
Dive, according to a new study
from Response Media, study
results show that 70% said their
purchases are always or often
influenced by transparency

content. Giving these items
valued real estate on pack

is a mutual benefit. Taking

that transparency to the next
level, companies must have
a robust website that allows

for consistent updates on
ingredients and supply chain.

But don’t count out bold design

and food visuals. Consumers

want to see what they’re about
to eat, and they love visuals so

they can actually see the real-food ingredients. When it comes

to design, it doesn’t get bolder

than going totally teal. We made

the decision to turn our entireproduct portfolio of 70+ bakingchocolates, cookies, snack barsand more to the color teal, the“unofficial” recognized color offood allergy awareness. It’s beensuccessful at creating a brandblock on shelf so shoppers with

food allergies can easily spot our
trusted snacks. Each package

also includes a bright yellow
flag with allergy and product
certification information so
there’s minimal guessing if it’s

safe for them to eat.

Retail Opportunity

Industry research indicates that
free-from shoppers spend an

average of $102 per cart load
compared to $46 for regular
shoppers, a 122% increase in

spend per shopping trip! As

the consumer base continues

to expand and prove that

individuals are willing to spend

more if a product actually tastes
good and is safe for them to eat,
there’s additional opportunity

to expand placements. End

caps, displays throughout the
store, and digital promotions
are all effective ways to increase
visibility where consumers